Rubio pressured to deliver votes for Puerto Rican appointee

In a move that has as much to do with Central Florida's Puerto Rican residents and whether U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio can deliver for them, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to call for a vote Thursday on the controversial ambassadorial nomination of Mari Carmen Aponte.

Reid, a Democrat from Nevada, is seeking a cloture vote that would free Aponte's nomination from a hold placed last year by U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who opposes her becoming U.S. ambassador to El Salvador.

Reid and Rubio, a Republican from Miami, both have repeatedly said they want Aponte to be confirmed for the post. But side political battles have held up a vote, pitting conservatives such as DeMint, who opposes Aponte because of her past, including statements supporting gay rights, against efforts by both Democrats and Republicans to woo Puerto Rican votes. Aponte would be the first Puerto Rican woman to hold an ambassadorial appointment.

In December, Rubio voted against Aponte's nomination in committee, then promised Reid he could deliver seven Republicans that Reid needed to win the vote on the Senate floor in return for other concessions. But the vote never happened.

Now Reid is trying again. "We were not just going to let her nomination die on the vine," said José Dante Parra, spokesman for Reid.

Rubio's spokesman Alex Conant said the senator is ready, but he is not sure the votes are. "As far as he's concerned, he delivered on his end of the deal" by lining up votes in December, Conant said.

But the congressional news service Roll Call quoted Rubio Wednesday as indicating he did not plan to deliver any votes Thursday except his own, while blaming Reid for any failure.

"Obviously, I am responsible for my vote. Any of my colleagues that want to ask me about my position, I'll be more than happy to state it," Rubio told Roll Call.